As humans
faced different crises through evolution, technological advancement has always
given us an edge against the challenges. Smarter and newer technological
solutions have risen out of difficult situations, making human life more
convenient and productive. Smart devices and technologies not only help ease
our work but also enhance our personality and lifestyle. As we prepare to
create a new normal, post-covid, here are some smart solutions which can be
used in our everyday lives.
Smart TVs – Television has been a major source of entertainment
and connects different generations in the same home. Having greatly evolved
through the years, smart TVs are now our smart windows to the world. Nowadays,
all smart TVs are equipped with in-built Wi-Fi, making it efficient,
connectable, and faster than normal televisions. Smart TVs are used to stream
shows and movies while also enabling us to view apps and services like Netflix,
YouTube, etc. The newest trend in the segment is the 8K television, capable of
harnessing Wi-Fi 6 capabilities, and Samsung’s 8K QLED Y20 model, powered by
MediaTek, is the world’s first such smart TV.
The TV supports Wi-Fi 6
connectivity and provides seamless entertainment, with smoother streaming, and
gaming experiences. To make the TV even smarter, switch to the MediaTek-powered
Amazon Fire Stick which delivers a vast variety of channels, shows and movies.
(Price range – 12,499 INR to over 60,000 INR).
Smart Collaboration
Solutions – As we prepare for
the new normal, one concept that is gaining importance is that of the hybrid
workspace. People will continue working from home, at least part-time while
collaborating with colleagues in the office, or at remote locations. This
creates the need for a solution that enables seamless and secure collaboration,
like Barco’s ClickShare Conference. A plug-and-play solution, ClickShare
Conference permits hosts to hold conference calls from their personal devices,
using conferencing solutions of their choice (e.g. Microsoft Teams, WebEx,
Zoom, etc) and also connects to the equipment already available in the meeting
space. The completely secure solution can be simply plugged in and all video
and audio streams will be received on attendees’ own devices, greatly reducing
the overall time taken to set up an online meeting. (Price range – 1,75,000 INR
to 2,75,000 INR).
Smart Lights – As we spend more and more time at home,
it is important that we optimise technology to enhance our daily lives. With
different technology advancements, smart lights have greatly contributed
towards brightening the home. From subdued yellow bulbs to shiny lighting,
smart lights have made lives more convenient. Efficient and sustainable, smart
lights sync with users’ smartphones and are easy to control. Philips delivers a
vast variety of smart lights, from normal LED Bulbs to smart Wi-Fi LED lighting
bulbs, equipped with the feature of app or voice control. These smart lights
also have automated lighting schedules to suit users’ lifestyles. (Price range
– 699 INR to over 2,000 INR).
Smart Speakers – Previously, speakers were only used for listening
to music. With the advent of smart speakers, like the Amazon Echo Dot powered
by MediaTek, users can now control and delegate a variety of tasks to their
voice assistants. Equipped with voice recognition feature and connected to the
internet, smart speakers allow users to control all their smart devices from a
centralised hub, making life more convenient and improving productivity and
efficiency. (Price range – 3,999 INR to over 19,000 INR)
Smart Watches – The pandemic has increased our focus on health and
fitness and smart watches are the perfect companions to improve our lifestyles.
Smart watches have features like fitness trackers and health monitors that
ensure users stay on track. These watches also sync with smartphones and act as
travel buddies. Popular smart watches include Apple’s iWatch and Xiaomi’s Smart
watch and these provide a full package of multifunctional features and amazing
work accessibility. (Price range – 3,000 INR to over 10,000 INR)
As we get ready for the new
normal, these smart solutions will ensure that we are equipped to meet the
challenges. Designed to either blend in with surroundings, or stand out as
statement pieces, these technologies are improving constantly. They are
consistently contributing towards making our homes, and professional and
personal lives smarter, more efficient, and productive.